Issue #149 | Subscribe

"Be curious, not judgmental."

As the year draws to a close and a new one dawns, I'm taking this quote I first heard in an episode of Ted Lasso as a guiding principle for the new year and beyond.

When we're too quick to judge someone or a competing business, we surrender our ability to be curious and learn from them. We underestimate the person before us and put them in a mental box without knowing their story.

Being curious, on the other hand, lets us ask questions, probe further and get a good understanding of a person or a business before making our move.

It works the other way around, too.

When someone judges and dismisses you too quickly, know that you might not be at fault here. The other person didn't take the time to be curious enough to know you.

Often, that can be an advantage for you in life and business.

If your competition doesn't know you well, it's unlikely they'll predict your next move, which means you have an unfair advantage in the game.

It's a short but multidimensional quote that's easy to carry in our minds and remind ourselves when needed.

"Be curious, not judgmental."

Before I wrap up this section, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for being a part of my journey with this newsletter this year. This is the last issue of 2024, but I'll be back with a new one on 3rd January 2025.

Till then, I wish you and your family a very happy new year ahead.

Now, before you move on to the rest of this newsletter issue, here are a few words from me as:

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Your Next Read

Culture

The Book of Ichigo Ichie

We live a more wholesome life and form deeper relations when we approach life with awareness and curiosity. This book will guide you.

★Read summary & notes for this book

Apps & Services

Superlist

Your notes and action items in one app

I featured Superlist back in Issue #90 when it was still in early beta, and since then, the app has become a much more polished version of a notes + to-do app and gained AI-planning capabilities along the way. Available on most major platforms and is free to start. Hulry Plus members get flat 30% off on the Pro plan. Become a member to access deals like this.
Pie Menu

Add a floating shortcuts menu for any app

This app will help you set up a floating shortcuts menu for apps on your Mac to trigger actions faster. Choose your most used actions for each app and summon a radial action panel with a single keyboard shortcut. Available on macOS and is free to start.
Flush Toilet Finder

Find nearby restrooms wherever you go

A handy companion for finding public restrooms in your city or while travelling elsewhere. You get a list of all available restrooms nearby with indicators such as disabled access availability or if it’s a pay-to-use toilet. Available on iOS and Android for free.

Handy Shortcut

⌘

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Move one folder up from the current location in the Finder app.

Interesting Reads

How I Make Habits Stick

9 min read

Longform

It’s that time of the year again, and if you’re looking to start a new year resolution, the tips I shared in this blog post might help you stick to your resolution longer.
Don't Be Afraid to Be Wrong

7 min read

I believe it’s better to take some extra time to produce quality work that’s thorough, but sometimes, even after your best efforts, you’ll get things wrong. Learn to be okay with it.
15 Times to Use AI, and 5 Not to

6 min read

Although AI might seem like a panacea to modern work, it might actually be counterproductive in some tasks, like reading and thinking. This list provides good examples of where AI practically helps us and where it defeats the underlying purpose.
Lazy Work, Good Work

4 min read

A fantastic, short piece on why knowledge workers, most of today’s desk job workers, should spend more time thinking rather than looking busy for the sake of it.

Watch Next

Since most of today’s non-fiction books are thickened with filler material, these reading tips will help you get to the key points faster.

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